ng5 ngaan4 luk6 sik1五顏六色五颜六色
Jyutpingng5 ngaan4 luk6 sik1
Yaleńgh ngàahn luhk sīk
Definition
Colourful, multicoloured, or having a wide variety of colours.
colloquialdescriptionscolours
How it's used
Describes a vibrant, multi-hued scene or object, but it can also be used sarcastically to describe something that is overly busy or garish. When applied to a person's face, it implies a sickly, pale, or bruised appearance rather than being literally colorful. It functions as a descriptive adjective that often follows the particle 咁 or the verb 嚟.
Examples
The flowers here are blooming in all sorts of colors, so beautiful.
Related words
Common phrases
colorful clothes
colorful flowers
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe a single object that is merely bright or vivid, as the idiom specifically emphasizes the presence of many different colors. Do not confuse it with 繽紛, which carries a more positive, festive connotation.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
